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Major win for India at COP26 as climate deal agreed with last-minute change on coal

India called for the "phase down" not the "phase out" of coal power

Environment minister Bhupender Yadav attends a stocktaking plenary session at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow | AP Environment minister Bhupender Yadav attends a stocktaking plenary session at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow | AP

Down, not out. A four letter word replacement has made all the difference in the Glasgow Climate Pact, making a large section of the world berate the watering down of the document, and rendering the enhanced climate ambition as rather pointless. But what looks as a failure to one part of the world is hard won success for another. 

It is indeed India's day in the sun, and not just because of its initiative to launch the One Sun One World One Grid transcontinental solar grid. 

Coal has been a red flag to India for quite some time now, as the world urges it to shut down its collieries and get energised on renewables. This was the first time that a Conference of Parties (COP) final document actually mentioned the word coal. And ever since the first draft of that document was released by Alok Sharma, COP president, on November 10, India fought valiantly for its carbon budget. 

On the paragraphs on mitigation, the language changed with every draft toning down the anti-coal clamour. Draft two was harsh enough to say it “called upon parties to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low-emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up clean power generation and accelerating the phase out of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.” 

Draft three was reworded to read that it “called upon parties to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies to transition towards low-emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation and energy efficiency measures, including accelerating efforts towards the phase out of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, recognising the need for support towards a just transition.”

Yet, India was not willing to give up. In a last ditch stance, environment minister Bhupender Yadav threatened Sharma that consensus remained elusive. Speaking at the informal stocktaking session, Yadav went in detail to elaborate just how inequitable the demand for phase out of coal was, when one section of the world had reached high levels of wealth and well being with it, and when the present problem was not so much of India using coal but of the unsustainable lifestyles and consumption patterns of rich countries.

"In such a situation, how can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies when developing counties have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication?," he asked. He gave the example of India, where LPG subsidies for low-income homes had reduced the problems of biomass burning and indoor pollution.

Yadav spoke with passion but conviction, telling the gathering that India was not shying away from its role in tackling climate change. Its initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure show that it understands its global responsibility and provides solutions. However, Yadav said,  every country would strive towards net-zero emissions based on their national circumstances, strengths and weaknesses. Developing countries with little historic responsibility for climate change had a right to a fair share of the carbon budget, he said.

As the session dragged into Saturday evening with no consensus, many countries decided to support the document and hope their issues would be subsequently resolved. Bhutan, speaking on behalf of Least Developed Countries, said that the section on Loss and Damage should have been clearer and the support mentioned was not enough, but it decided to go ahead and adopt the text. So did Costa Rica and Brazil. Nigeria came out in support of India on the issues of equitable progress on all climate action. China suggested some changes, including a mention of its new alliance with the US on climate action. Iran made noise on easing out fossil fuel subsidies. 

However, it was clear that India was the deal maker or breaker. No one else had spoken so emphatically against the consensus. Shortly after, John Kerry, the US special envoy on climate change met Yadav, as did the Chinese representative. India proposed an alternative statement: Parties would commit to “escalating efforts to phase down unabated coal power and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support to the poorest and the most vulnerable in line with national circumstances and recognising the need for support towards a just transition.” 

Not only had it replaced phase out with phase down, but it also included a line about support to the poorest and most vulnerable. China, which has been on the same page as India by and large on coal, supported the new lines, as well as the addition of “call on all parties” prefixing the “escalating efforts'' part. This was in line with the thinking of South Africa, Bolivia and other like minded developing countries. 

Switzerland may have snorted its disdain, the European Union its disappointment, but that was they could do. Everyone wanted to go home, and they needed a consensual text in place before that. India would only consent on its terms. 

Long considered hesitant on the international stage, India has restablished a repute for tough negotiations in recent years. Donald Trump mentioned this, specially naming Narendra Modi, when he was in Delhi in February 2020, and was answering a query on the progress in a trade deal. Recently at the G 20 environment ministers' summit in Rome, India and China refused to ink their signatures on a deadline to phasing out coal. Even the subsequent summit of G20 leaders just before COP26 reflected the language India likes to use, with the phrase “according to national circumstances''.

The G 20 statement read: “We commit to significantly reduce our collective greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account national circumstances and respecting our nationally determined commitments...” At another point, it said:  “We acknowledge that methane emissions represent a significant contribution to climate change and recognise, according to national circumstances, that its reduction can be one of the quickest, most feasible and most cost-effective ways to limit climate change...''

India, at COP 26, refused to ink the forest and sustainable agriculture pacts, because there was a clause for trade in it, and India remains wary on any trade deals, whether agricultural or manufacturing, as it has to guard its domestic industry. India also refused to be part of the methane pledge. 

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